An American official stated on the 1st that the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Ford has left the Middle East and is currently located within the area of responsibility of the US European Command. It has been reported that the Ford will return to its home port in Virginia, USA, where it is expected to undergo large-scale repairs and maintenance.
The official noted that after the Ford's departure, the number of US Navy ships deployed in the Middle East stands at 20, including two other aircraft carriers, the Lincoln and the Bush.
The Ford is the lead ship of the US Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and represents the newest generation of US Navy supercarriers. It left its home port at Naval Station Norfolk on June 24, 2025, headed to Europe, and then, as directed, crossed the Atlantic returning to the Caribbean to participate in the blockade of Venezuelan oil exports, as well as the operation in January this year to capture Venezuelan President Maduro. It was later assigned to the Middle East to support US operations against Iran and, before leaving the region, performed missions in the Red Sea.
US Navy aircraft carrier deployment cycles usually last 6 to 7 months, but the Ford has been deployed at sea for over 10 months, setting a record for the longest deployment of a modern US aircraft carrier. The prolonged deployment caused significant wear on the vessel; earlier, a fire broke out in the laundry room, injuring several sailors, which required the ship to urgently withdraw from the Middle East for repairs at port.